Daniel Susac: Two-Homer Explosion Puts the Rookie Catcher on the Radar
Daniel Susac went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, a walk, and zero strikeouts on July 29 — and suddenly the 21-PA sample that had us filing him under "deprioritize" for months looks different. Not dramatically different. But different enough to move him from ignore to Watch.
The Signal
Susac's 7-day wOBA has spiked to .416, up from .359 over 30 days. His strikeout rate over the past week dropped to 0.0% across 13 plate appearances, down from 14.3% over 30 days. His walk rate climbed to 7.7% from 4.8%. That's the trifecta of early-signal indicators: more damage, better contact, improved plate discipline.
But let's be honest about what we're looking at. This is 21 total plate appearances over five games. The entire 30-day line — .222 AVG, 2 HR, 1 SB, .359 wOBA — is essentially just these five games. Susac hasn't been getting consistent at-bats, and the July 29 explosion is doing a lot of heavy lifting in these rolling numbers. One monster game does not make a breakout.
WaiverScout History: We've Been Watching
WaiverScout has flagged Susac seven times this season, dating back to April 12 — every single time as a deprioritize. The playing time wasn't there. The production wasn't there. At 1-2% rostered throughout, there was never a reason to act. That context matters now: we've been tracking this player for months, and this is the first time the algorithm has upgraded him. Something changed.
What changed is obvious in the game log. After going 0-for-7 with zero extra-base hits across his previous four games (July 22-26), Susac erupted for his first multi-homer game. The question is whether San Francisco gives him enough plate appearances to sustain any fantasy relevance.
The Playing Time Problem
As reported earlier this summer, the Giants have been carrying three catchers, which has limited Susac's runway. Yahoo Sports has noted his "growing" rookie season is reaching a promising new phase, but at 1% rostered with no ownership velocity, the fantasy community hasn't bought in yet. Understandably so — sporadic at-bats make it nearly impossible to trust a catcher in weekly lineup formats.
If you're in a league where catchers like Yainer Diaz or Gabriel Moreno are locked up, you're probably streaming the position anyway. Susac isn't the answer to that problem today, but he could be emerging as a name to keep in the queue.
What Would Change the Classification
Two things would push Susac from Watch to actionable. First, more plate appearances — we need to see him start four or five games per week, not two or three. Second, sustained contact quality. The 0.0% K-rate over seven days is unsustainable and almost certainly a small-sample mirage, but if he can keep his strikeout rate below 20% over a meaningful stretch while maintaining a wOBA above .350, we're looking at a viable fantasy catcher.
Verdict: Watch
Do not add Daniel Susac yet. The sample is razor-thin, the playing time is uncertain, and one two-homer game against a backdrop of 0-for-7 futility is not a trend. But early signs suggest the raw tools — power and improving plate discipline — could be emerging at the major league level. At 1% rostered, there's no rush. Monitor his starts over the next two weeks. If San Francisco gives him consistent run and the bat stays alive, he'll move up the board quickly. For now, he earns a spot on your watchlist and nothing more.